Tensions between coalition parties increase ahead of general electionTaoiseach Simon Harris says he is ‘anti-carbon, but not anti-car’Anti-pollution push ahead of a general election decried by FG sourcesGreens’ councillor Hazel Chu derides Fine Gael proposal for state-run creches as ‘bonkers’ and ‘cobbled together’Transport Minister Eamon Ryan describes claims of delay to bill as ‘nonsense’
The Green Party wants the Cabinet to sign off on a strategy – just before the general election is called – to reduce traffic congestion by hitting road users with new taxes.
However, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil insist they will not clear the plan drafted by Transport Minister and former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan before the country goes to the polls.
The row comes amid an increasing number of tit-for-tat clashes between the coalition partners as the election date nears.
Yesterday, Green Party councillor Hazel Chu criticised Fine Gael’s plan to turn state-owned buildings deemed unsuitable for international protection accommodation into state-run creches, saying it was “bonkers”.
Fianna Fáil TD Christopher O’Sullivan criticised Mr Ryan for failing to introduce a €50m retrofitting scheme for businesses that was signed off in the budget two years ago.
Mr O’Sullivan accused Mr Ryan of “dragging his heels” on approving the grant, and said it was unacceptable that it had not been signed off.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said he was ‘anti-carbon but not anti-car’. Photo: PA
“Budget 2023 committed the €50m fund from the Climate Action Fund for a range of measures such as solar thermal for hot water and heat pumps. It was designed to provide supports to pubs, restaurants and retail,” he said.
“But the funding announced in October 2022 – two years ago – under Budget 2023 has yet to be signed off by Mr Ryan. It’s been sitting on the minister’s desk for signing for some time now awaiting sign-off.”
A spokesperson for Mr Ryan said the claim of a delay was “nonsense”.
It had already been agreed by the Government last spring before it went out for public consultation
In a further escalation of tensions, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman faced resistance from Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin at their weekly leaders’ meeting when he proposed publishing a transport strategy involving new taxes and tolls for motorists.
At the leaders’ meeting, the Taoiseach said he was “anti-carbon, but not anti-car” as he pushed back against the plan.
Senior sources in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil said they would not clear the plan before the election.
A Fine Gael source said the proposal to publish a plan involving new taxes when the country was about to vote was “just ridiculous”.
“There is a very clear tactic from the Greens of trying to give the impression that they are the only party putting important things on the agenda,” the source added.
Hazel Chu. Photo: Gerry Mooney
A Fianna Fáil source said the Greens would be “stopped in their tracks” if they continued to push for the strategy to be published in advance of the election.
However, a Green Party source said it would continue to discuss the plan with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in anticipation of it being cleared by the Cabinet.
“It had already been agreed by the Government last spring before it went out for public consultation. This was it just coming back from that process, but apparently there have been very few changes to what was previously agreed,” the source added.
Bonkers proposal by Fine Gael to locate childcare centres in buildings that were turned down for asylum accommodation
A draft of the traffic strategy, entitled “Moving Together: A Strategic Approach to the Improved Efficiency of the Transport System in Ireland”, was published by Mr Ryan in March.
The TD asked that the Government approve and publish the final version of the strategy, including timelines for implementing the recommendations.
There was some surprise within Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil that the proposal came just two days before the second-last cabinet meeting ahead of the election being called.
The strategy calls for a review of a current range of taxes and charges applying to transport, including VRT, motor tax, excise, carbon tax, tolls and Vat.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan. Photo: PA
It also recommends introducing road tolls based on the length of time a motorist has driven.
Among the other proposed measures is a plan for the Government to bring forward options for a “user and polluter pays” approach to transport taxation.
This would include developing a weight-based approach to car and heavy goods vehicle taxation through motor tax or VRT.
Meanwhile, Green Party Dublin Bay South general election candidate Ms Chu took to social media to criticise Fine Gael’s proposal to open 100 state-run childcare facilities using buildings or land deemed unsuitable for international protection centres.
“Bonkers proposal by Fine Gael to locate childcare centres in buildings that were turned down for asylum accommodation,” she wrote on X.
“These buildings were rejected as they were too isolated, too derelict or too costly to fix. It looks like a plan cobbled together overnight. The Greens were the first party to take childcare seriously and used our time in government to halve the cost of childcare.
“We’ll reduce costs further and roll out guaranteed places for childcare in turn-key locations that suit parents, such as the State’s network of [Education and Training Board] buildings.”
